Liquid medication dispensing machine

ABSTRACT

A liquid medication dispensing machine capable of stirring a liquid medication contained in a liquid medication bottle in the machine with a simple structure is provided. The liquid medication dispensing machine supplying a liquid medication from a liquid medication bottle ( 23 ) containing the liquid medication to a prescription bottle includes a holder ( 78 ) holding a bottom ( 23 B) of the liquid medication bottle ( 23 ), and a rotationally driving unit ( 61 ) generating rotary force and rotating the holder ( 78 ) and the liquid medication bottle ( 23 ) held by the holder ( 78 ) around a rotation axis (L 3 ) extending along a center line (L 2 ) of the liquid medication bottle ( 23 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a liquid medication dispensing machine,and more particularly relates to a liquid medication dispensing machinefor supplying a liquid medication from a liquid medication bottlecontaining the liquid medication to a prescription bottle.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a liquid medication as a liquid state medicine isdispensed in a dispensing pharmacy or the like. In accordance with aprescription for a patient, one or a plurality of types of liquidmedications are infused sequentially by a predetermined quantity into aprescription bottle, and a required diluent is infused, therebydispensing a liquid medication.

Conventional techniques related to a liquid medication dispensingmachine for dispensing a liquid medication are disclosed in JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-112673 (Patent Literature 1) andJapanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-178495 (Patent Literature2), for example. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-112673(Patent Literature 1) proposes a liquid medication dispensing machinehaving a rotary unit rotated while holding a plurality of liquidmedication bottles and rotating the rotary unit by 180 degrees, therebyinverting a liquid medication bottle.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-178495 (Patent Literature2) proposes a liquid medication dispensing machine including a pump forsupplying a liquid medication from within a liquid medication bottletoward an opening of a prescription bottle via a tube, and a controldevice controlling driving of the pump, wherein the control device has afunction of switching pump driving between a liquid medication supplystate in which the liquid medication is supplied to the prescriptionbottle and a liquid medication stirring state in which the liquidmedication in the liquid medication bottle is stirred.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   PTL 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-112673-   PTL 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-178495

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

When dispensing a liquid medication including suspensions, theprescription guidelines require that the liquid medication in a liquidmedication bottle be stirred and then supplied to a prescription bottle.In the liquid medication dispensing machine described in JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-112673 (Patent Literature 1),since the liquid medication contained in the liquid medication bottle isstirred by rotating the liquid medication bottle by 180 degrees to beinverted through the use of the rotary unit, the structure for stirringthe liquid medication is complicated, and the liquid medicationdispensing machine is increased in size.

In the case of a liquid medication dispensing machine in which a liquidmedication bottle with a tube located therein is rotated, it isnecessary to prevent the tube used for the liquid medication dispensingmachine from rotating together with the liquid medication bottle duringrotation of the liquid medication bottle so as to prevent the tube fromtwisting. It is disclosed that, in the liquid medication dispensingmachine described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.2009-178495 (Patent Literature 2), the tip of one open end of a tube isinserted to reach the bottom of the liquid medication bottle. However,the subject of preventing twist of the tube and a specific structure forsolving the subject are not disclosed.

The present invention was made in view of the above-described problems,and has a main object to provide a liquid medication dispensing machinecapable of stirring a liquid medication contained in a liquid medicationbottle in the machine with a simple structure.

Solution to Problem

A liquid medication dispensing machine according to the presentinvention is a liquid medication dispensing machine supplying a liquidmedication from a liquid medication bottle containing the liquidmedication to a prescription bottle, including a holder holding a bottomof the liquid medication bottle, and a rotationally driving unitgenerating rotary force and rotating the holder and the liquidmedication bottle held by the holder around a rotation axis extendingalong a center line of the liquid medication bottle.

The liquid medication dispensing machine preferably includes a tubethrough which the liquid medication flowing out of the liquid medicationbottle passes. The tube is located inside the liquid medication bottleand extends from the opening toward the bottom of the liquid medicationbottle.

In the above-described liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably,the holder holds the liquid medication bottle with the center linedisplaced from the rotation axis.

In the above-described liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably,the rotationally driving unit generates the rotary force both in forwardand reverse directions, and rotates the liquid medication bottle in theforward direction and then rotates the liquid medication bottle in thereverse direction opposite to the forward direction.

In the above-described liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably,the liquid medication is supplied to the prescription bottle after therotationally driving unit rotates the liquid medication bottle.

The above-described liquid medication dispensing machine preferablyincludes a tube through which the liquid medication flowing out of theliquid medication bottle passes, and a positioning unit positioning thetube relative to the liquid medication bottle such that the tube passesthrough a central part of an opening of the liquid medication bottle. Anouter diameter of the tube is formed smaller than a diameter of theopening. The tube is attached to the liquid medication bottle with thepositioning unit interposed therebetween.

Here, the central part of the opening is not restricted to the centralposition of the opening, but indicates a region including the centralposition of the opening distant from the inner wall surface of theopening to such an extent that the tube arranged through the openingdoes not come into contact with the mouth of the liquid medicationbottle.

In the above-described liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably,the positioning unit attaches the tube to the liquid medication bottlesuch that the tube is relatively rotated with respect to the liquidmedication bottle.

In the above-described liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably,the positioning unit is attached to a main body of the liquid medicationdispensing machine.

In the above-described liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably,the positioning unit is removably attached to the main body of theliquid medication dispensing machine.

In the above-described liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably,the tube includes one end located inside the liquid medication bottleand a positioning member attached to the tube at a predetermineddistance from the one end. The tube is positioned relative to the liquidmedication bottle by the positioning member being held by thepositioning unit.

In the above-described liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably,the positioning member prevents the tube from being rotated relative tothe positioning unit.

In the above-described liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably,the positioning unit holds the positioning member in a longitudinaldirection of the tube.

In the above-described liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably,a base member rotating integrally with the liquid medication bottle isfixed to the opening. The positioning unit includes a cover mounted onthe base member while covering the opening and not rotated while theliquid medication bottle is being rotated but sliding over the basemember. The tube is engaged with the cover to be positioned relative tothe liquid medication bottle.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the liquid medication dispensing machine of the presentinvention, a liquid medication contained in a liquid medication bottlecan be stirred in the machine with a simple structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a liquid medicationdispensing machine of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the liquid medication dispensing machine shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the liquid medication dispensingmachine taken along the line III-III shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the liquid medication dispensingmachine taken along the line IV-IV shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the liquid medication dispensingmachine taken along the line V-V shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a structure of a stirring unit bywhich a liquid medication in a liquid medication bottle is stirred.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the stirring unit shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the stirring unit taken along theline VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the stirring unit.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an attachment structure bywhich a tube is attached to the liquid medication bottle.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the overall structure of thetube.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of a control method of theliquid medication dispensing machine.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a variation of a stirring device.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing another variation of a stirringdevice.

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of a liquid medication dispensingmachine of a second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a structure of a tube holdingstructure of the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the tube holding structure shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the tube holding structure takenalong the line XVIII-XVIII shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the tube holding structure ofthe second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based onthe drawings. In the following drawings, the same or correspondingportions have the same reference characters allotted, and descriptionthereof will not be repeated.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a liquid medicationdispensing machine 1 of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2is a front view of liquid medication dispensing machine 1 shown inFIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of liquid medication dispensingmachine 1 taken along the line III-III shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is across sectional view of liquid medication dispensing machine 1 takenalong the line IV-IV shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional viewof liquid medication dispensing machine 1 taken along the line V-V shownin FIG. 2. Liquid medication dispensing machine 1 of the presentembodiment is used to supply and dispense a liquid medication 5 which isa liquid state medicine from a liquid medication bottle 23 containingliquid medication 5 to a prescription bottle 2 in accordance with aprescription for a patient.

Liquid medication dispensing machine 1 includes a liquid medicationsupply unit 3 supplying liquid medication 5 from liquid medicationbottle 23 to prescription bottle 2 and a weight detection unit 4detecting the weight of liquid medication 5 contained in prescriptionbottle 2. The volume of liquid medication 5 supplied to prescriptionbottle 2 is calculated from the weight of liquid medication 5 detectedby weight detection unit 4 and the specific gravity of liquid medication5. Liquid medication supply unit 3 is controlled such that apredetermined volume of liquid medication 5 in accordance with theprescription is supplied to prescription bottle 2. Liquid medicationsupply unit 3 and weight detection unit 4 are provided in a housing 6.Housing 6 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is installed on ahorizontal installation surface in an upright position.

A support frame 8 is provided inside housing 6. Support frame 8 islocated between a bottom plate 9 of housing 6 and a top plate 10 ofhousing 6, and in more detail, located closer to top plate 10 of housing6. The internal space of housing 6 is divided by support frame 8 into anupper space 11 above support frame 8 and a lower space 12 below supportframe 8. A touch panel 14 and printers 17 a, 17 b are located in a frontsection 13 of housing 6. A lower opening 15 by which lower space 12communicates with the outside of housing 6 is also formed in frontsection 13.

Lower opening 15 is formed between both side portions 16 a, 16 b infront section 13 of housing 6. Above lower opening 15 between both sideportions 16 a, 16 b, a curved plate-like front cover portion 18 islocated which separates lower space 12 and the outside of housing 6.Front cover portion 18 is made of a transparent material such that lowerspace 12 is visible from outside the front side of housing 6. Frontcover portion 18 is attached to one of both side portions 16 a, 16 bwith a hinge and is provided to be pivotable around the axis of thehinge, so that front cover portion 18 can be opened/closed.

Liquid medication supply unit 3 has a rotation drum 21 which is arotator located in lower space 12 and provided rotatably around an axisline (hereinbelow a “drum axis line”) L1 perpendicular to support frame8 and a drum rotating motor 22 mounted on the upper surface of supportframe 8 and rotating rotation drum 21 around drum axis line L1 relativeto support frame 8. Liquid medication supply unit 3 also has a pluralityof pumps 24 provided for rotation drum 21 and transporting a liquidmedication from a plurality of liquid medication bottles 23 containingliquid medication 5 to prescription bottle 2, and a pump driving unit 25driving each pump 24. Each pump 24 may be a tube pump.

Rotation drum 21 has a pump holder 31 holding each pump 24 and a liquidmedication bottle holder 32 holding each liquid medication bottle 23 inan upright position such that an opening 23A (see FIG. 10 which will bedescribed later) is open upward. Liquid medication bottle holder 32 isprovided below pump holder 31 and has an annular flat plate shape inplan view. On pump holder 31, respective pumps 24 are located atintervals in a circumferential direction around drum axis line L1(hereinbelow a “drum circumferential direction”). On liquid medicationbottle holder 32, respective liquid medication bottles 23 are located atintervals in the drum circumferential direction.

The number of liquid medication bottles 23 and pumps 24 mounted onrotation drum 21 in the present embodiment can be optionally changedaccording to the purpose. A different liquid medication 5 may becontained in each of plurality of liquid medication bottles 23, orheavily used liquid medication 5 of the same type may be contained inplurality of liquid medication bottles 23, or a diluent, such as wateror simple syrup, may be contained in one or a plurality of liquidmedication bottles 23.

Pump driving unit 25 for selectively driving each pump 24 has a fixedpart 37 fixed to support frame 8, a moving part 38 provided movablyforward and backward relative to fixed part 37 (in the direction of adouble-headed arrow A shown in FIGS. 4 and 5), a moving motor 39 whichis fixed to fixed part 37 and moves moving part 38 forward and backwardrelative to fixed part 37, and a pump driving motor 40 which is fixed tomoving part 38 and drives pump 24. Pump driving motor 40 may beimplemented by a stepping motor.

A coupling member 42 is fixed at the leading end of drive shaft 41rotated by pump driving motor 40. A coupled member 44 to be coupled tocoupling member 42 is fixed to a rotary shaft 43 of the rotor of eachpump 24. When coupling member 42 and coupled member 44 are coupled toeach other, rotation of pump driving motor 40 is transmitted to pump 24.Each pump 24 is constructed to be driven individually in conjunctionwith intermittent driving of drum rotating motor 22. The speed of supplyof liquid medication 5 to prescription bottle 2 increases as the speedof rotation of pump driving motor 40 increases.

By driving moving motor 39, pump driving motor 40 is moved forward andbackward. By this movement of pump driving motor 40, a switch can bemade between a coupled state in which coupling member 42 of pump drivingmotor 40 is coupled to coupled member 44 of pump 24 and a decoupledstate in which coupling member 42 is not coupled to coupled member 44.

For example, coupling member 42 and coupled member 44 can be coupled toeach other by advancing moving part 38 by driving of moving motor 39.The coupling of coupling member 42 and coupled member 44 can be releasedby retracting moving part 38 by driving of moving motor 39. Rotationdrum 21 can be rotated relative to support frame 8 in the decoupledstate.

By driving drum rotating motor 22 in the decoupled state, rotation drum21 is rotated to a position where coupled member 44 of a specific pump24 selected based on prescription information input to liquid medicationdispensing machine 1 faces coupling member 42 of pump driving motor 40,and after the rotation, a switch is made to the coupled state. Theselected specific pump 24 can thereby be driven to dispense liquidmedication 5 supplied from a desired liquid medication bottle 23 intoprescription bottle 2. Although coupling member 42 and coupled member 44are both implemented by gears, they may have any structure that cantransmit motive power.

At an upper end 26 of rotation drum 21, a ring member 27 locatedhorizontally and coaxially with drum axis line L1 is located rotatablyaround drum axis line L1. Three or more support members 28 supportingring member 27 are provided on the outer circumferential side of ringmember 27. Respective support members 28 are located at equal intervalsin the drum circumferential direction.

Respective support members 28 are provided relatively rotatably withrespect to support frame 8 around an axis line parallel to drum axisline L1. A recessed groove 29 is formed in the flat cylindrical outercircumferential surface of each of support members 28 along the entirecircumference. An annular protruding line 30 is formed in the outercircumferential part of ring member 27 along the entire circumference.Protruding line 30 of ring member 27 is fitted into recessed groove 29of each support member 28. Ring member 27 and support member 28 areprovided relatively rotatably.

Drum rotating motor 22 is fixed to support frame 8. A driving gear (notshown) is fixed to the rotary shaft of drum rotating motor 22. A drivengear 33 meshing with the driving gear is fixed to upper end 26 ofrotation drum 21. Driven gear 33 has an annular thin plate shape and isfixed to the lower surface of ring member 27. Rotation of drum rotatingmotor 22 is transmitted to ring member 27 via the driving gear anddriven gear 33, and ring member 27 and rotation drum 21 to which thering member is fixed are thereby rotated integrally. With such astructure, rotation drum 21 can be smoothly rotated relative to supportframe 8.

Drum rotating motor 22 revolves integrally in the horizontal directionplurality of liquid medication bottles 23 mounted on rotation drum 21,pumps 24 and supply nozzles 36 provided in correspondence with pluralityof liquid medication bottles 23, respectively, and a tube 34, which willbe described later, with one end located inside liquid medication bottle23 and the other end attached to supply nozzle 36.

Supply nozzle 36 is attached onto the same circumference as the outercircumferential part of a nozzle attachment plate 53 which is an annularflat plate provided at the lower end of pump holder 31. Respectivesupply nozzles 36 are located on nozzle attachment plate 53 at equalintervals in the drum circumferential direction on a virtual circlearound drum axis line L1. Supply nozzle 36 is attached to nozzleattachment plate 53 at an inclination of a predetermined angle withrespect to drum axis line L1. Nozzle attachment plate 53 is locatedabove liquid medication bottle holder 32. Nozzle attachment plate 53 andliquid medication bottle holder 32 are parallel to each other, and areconstructed to be capable of revolving on a horizontal plane togetherwith rotation drum 21 around drum axis line L1.

Weight detection unit 4 is located in lower opening 15. Weight detectionunit 4 has an electronic balance 45, a casing 46 storing electronicbalance 45, and a prescription bottle holder 47 mounted on and fixed toelectronic balance 45 and holding prescription bottle 2 in an uprightposition such that an opening 2A is open upward. Electronic balance 45detects the weight of liquid medication 5 supplied to prescriptionbottle 2. When the weight of liquid medication 5 reaches a predeterminedvalue, liquid medication supply unit 3 stops driving of pump 24 to stopsupply of liquid medication 5 to prescription bottle 2. Electronicbalance 45 may be of any type, such as tuning fork, load cell orelectromagnetic type. Casing 46 is provided at a lower position of frontsection 13 of housing 6 between both side portions 16 a, 16 b.Prescription bottle holder 47 has a table 48 on which prescriptionbottle 2 is mounted and a holding fixture 49 provided above table 48 andholding prescription bottle 2.

Weight detection unit 4 is moved up and down by an elevating device 50as a driving unit shown in FIG. 5. Elevating device 50 moves weightdetection unit 4 in the vertical direction so as to be located at twopositions, an initial position and a supply position, and accordinglymoves prescription bottle 2 mounted on table 48 of weight detection unit4. The initial position is a position where prescription bottle 2 isplaced on table 48 of liquid medication dispensing machine 1. The supplyposition is a position where prescription bottle 2 and supply nozzle 36come closer to each other than at the initial position so that liquidmedication 5 is supplied to prescription bottle 2. By means of elevatingdevice 50, prescription bottle 2 is reciprocally moved between theoutside and the inside of housing 6 of liquid medication dispensingmachine 1 so as to reciprocate between the initial position and thesupply position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a structure of a stirring unit bywhich liquid medication 5 in liquid medication bottle 23 is stirred.FIG. 7 is a side view of the stirring unit shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is across sectional view of the stirring unit taken along the line VIII-VIIIshown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the stirringunit. Liquid medication supply unit 3 of the present embodimentincludes, in housing 6 of liquid medication dispensing machine 1, astirring device stirring liquid medication 5 contained in liquidmedication bottle 23. This stirring device will be described in detailbelow.

In FIGS. 6 to 9 and FIG. 10 which will be described later, liquidmedication bottle holder 32 with merely one liquid medication bottle 23mounted thereon is shown giving priority to clarity. Although liquidmedication dispensing machine 1 includes a plurality of cup fixing parts76, 76A, cups 78 and the like for holding liquid medication bottles 23,merely some of plurality of cup fixing parts 76, 76A, cups 78 and thelike are illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 10, and not all of them areillustrated.

A rotationally driving unit 61 generating rotary force is located underliquid medication bottle holder 32. As shown in FIG. 8, rotationallydriving unit 61 has a motor 62 as an example of a power source and a box63 storing motor 62 therein. A shaft 64 rotating with motor 62 iscoupled to the rotary shaft of motor 62. Shaft 64 is fixed to motor 62rotatably around a rotation axis L3 integrally with motor 62. Shaft 64is located to extend from the inside to the outside of box 63. Shaft 64is located to extend through flat plate-like liquid medication bottleholder 32 in the vertical direction, and transmits rotary forcegenerated by motor 62 from the lower side of liquid medication bottleholder 32 to the upper side of liquid medication bottle holder 32.

Cup 78 is fixed to shaft 64 with various elements, which will bedescribed later, interposed therebetween. Cup 78 serves as a holderholding liquid medication bottle 23. Cup 78 holds the bottom 23B side ofliquid medication bottle 23 shown in FIG. 8. Cup 78 has a bottomedhollow cylindrical shape. Liquid medication bottle 23 is received in cup78 such that bottom 23B is opposed to the inner bottom surface of cup78. The inner wall surface of the sidewall of cup 78 has a diameterslightly larger than that of the side surface of liquid medicationbottle 23. Therefore, the side surface of liquid medication bottle 23 isopposed to the inner wall surface of the sidewall of cup 78 with aminute clearance. Part of the side surface of liquid medication bottle23 may contact the inner wall surface of the sidewall of cup 78.

Tube 34 as a pipe part is located inside liquid medication bottle 23.Tube 34 is provided for each of plurality of liquid medication bottles23. Tube 34 is made of a material having flexibility and elasticity, andis deformable in cross section under pressure and is elasticallyrestored by releasing pressure. Tube 34 may be made of synthetic resin,such as a silicon tube, for example. Tube 34 extends from opening 23Atoward bottom 23B of liquid medication bottle 23, and is located insideliquid medication bottle 23 such that its one end 34 a contacts theinner surface of bottom 23B of liquid medication bottle 23.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an attachment structure bywhich a tube is attached to liquid medication bottle 23. Referring toFIGS. 7, 8 and 10, a base member 81 is fixed to opening 23A of liquidmedication bottle 23. Base member 81 has an annular disc-like flangeportion 81 a and a cylindrical sleeve portion 81 b projecting from theupper surface of flange portion 81 a. A through-hole 81 c extendingthrough the disc member is formed at the central part of the disc memberthat forms an end of sleeve portion 81 b. The inside and the outside ofliquid medication bottle 23 communicate with each other via through-hole81 c with base member 81 attached to opening 23A of liquid medicationbottle 23. Tube 34 is inserted into through-hole 81 c to extend throughthrough-hole 81 c, and is located to extend from the outside to theinside of liquid medication bottle 23.

Base member 81 is fixed to opening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23 asshown in FIG. 8. A cylindrical spacer 82 made of an elastic material,such as silicone rubber, for example, is attached to the innercircumferential surface of sleeve portion 81 b of base member 81. Basemember 81 is attached to liquid medication bottle 23 with elasticallydeformable spacer 82 interposed therebetween such that base member 81can be reliably fixed to opening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23 evenif dimensional variations in base member 81 or liquid medication bottle23 occur.

A cover 83 is located over base member 81. Cover 83 is mounted on theupper surface of flange portion 81 a of base member 81 while not beingfixed to base member 81. Cover 83 has a cap shape having a hollowcylindrical wall portion and a disk-like top portion covering the upperend of the wall portion. The lower end of the wall portion comes intocontact with the upper surface of base member 81, so that cover 83 ismounted over base member 81. Cover 83 is provided to cover opening 23Aof liquid medication bottle 23 while cover 83 is mounted on base member81 fixed to liquid medication bottle 23. A through-hole having adiameter of such a degree that tube 34 can be just inserted therethroughis formed in the above-mentioned top portion of cover 83.

The above-mentioned top portion of cover 83 further has a recess 84obtained by recessing part of the upper surface. A positioning member 85is attached to tube 34. Positioning member 85 is attached to tube 34 soas not to block the flow of liquid medication 5 flowing through theinside of tube 34. Moreover, positioning member 85 is attached to tube34 so as to be unlikely to move relative to tube 34 in the longitudinaldirection of tube 34. Recess 84 and positioning member 85 have acorresponding shape such that positioning member 85 is fitted withinrecess 84.

Positioning member 85 is engaged with recess 84 formed in cover 83 tothereby position tube 34 with positioning member 85 attached theretorelative to liquid medication bottle 23. As shown in FIG. 8, whenpositioning member 85 is received in recess 84 of cover 83, positioningmember 85 positions tube 34 relative to liquid medication bottle 23 suchthat one end 34 a of tube 34 slightly curved inside liquid medicationbottle 23 contacts bottom 23B of liquid medication bottle 23.

Furthermore, a tube fixing part 86 for fixing tube 34 on the outside ofliquid medication bottle 23 is provided. Tube fixing part 86 is fixed tothe lower surface side of nozzle attachment plate 53 as shown in FIG. 3.Tube fixing part 86 has a cutout 87 formed therein. Cutout 87 has ashape nearly identical to the outer diameter of tube 34 such that tube34 can be held within cutout 87. By causing tube 34 to be held withincutout 87 with tube 34 inserted into liquid medication bottle 23 asillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, tube 34 is fixed to nozzle attachmentplate 53. Furthermore, tube 34 is fitted within a cutout 54 (see FIG. 5)formed in nozzle attachment plate 53, and is thereby fixed to nozzleattachment plate 53.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the overall structure of tube 34.As described above, open one end 34 a of tube 34 is inserted to reachbottom 23B of liquid medication bottle 23, and is immersed into liquidmedication 5 in liquid medication bottle 23. The other end 34 b of tube34 which is an end opposite to one end 34 a is attached to supply nozzle36. If pump 24 described above is a tube pump, a middle portion of tube34 between one end 34 a and the above-mentioned other end is insertedinto pump 24 and is removably held by pump 24.

Pump 24 is used as a power source by which liquid medication 5 in liquidmedication bottle 23 is sucked toward supply nozzle 36. When supplyingliquid medication 5 from liquid medication bottle 23 to prescriptionbottle 2 by driving of pump 24, liquid medication 5 flown out of liquidmedication bottle 23 flows from one end 34 a, through the inside of tube34, via a supply port 36A which is an open end of supply nozzle 36, andinto prescription bottle 2.

Positioning member 85 described above is attached to tube 34 at apredetermined distance from one end 34 a of tube 34. Positioning member85 is attached to tube 34 such that the distance from one end 34 a oftube 34 to the position of tube 34 where positioning member 85 isattached is kept constant. Tube 34 with positioning member 85 attachedthereto can thus be prepared, and tube 34 can be reliably positionedrelative to liquid medication bottle 23 in an easy operation of fittingpositioning member 85 into recess 84 formed in cover 83. The position ofpositioning member 85 in the longitudinal direction of tube 34 is setsuch that one end 34 a of tube 34 is reliably immersed in liquidmedication 5 in liquid medication bottle 23, typically, to such a degreethat one end 34 a contacts bottom 23B of liquid medication bottle 23.

In the stirring device having the structure described above, when motor62 of rotationally driving unit 61 is driven, shaft 64 fixed to motor 62is rotated together with motor 62. The direction of rotation of motor 62at this time will be called a forward direction. Cup 78 fixed to shaft64 and liquid medication bottle 23 held by cup 78 are rotated aroundrotation axis L3 along with the rotation of shaft 64 in the forwarddirection. Rotation axis L3 forming the central axis of rotation ofliquid medication bottle 23 extends along a center line L2 of liquidmedication bottle 23. Here, center line L2 of liquid medication bottle23 refers to a straight line connecting opening 23A and bottom 23B ofliquid medication bottle 23, and typically refers to a straight lineconnecting the center of opening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23 ofcircular shape in plan view and the center of bottom 23B of liquidmedication bottle 23 of circular shape in plan view.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, liquid medication bottle23 is located at the center of cup 78. Center line L2 of liquidmedication bottle 23 and rotation axis L3 of rotationally driving unit61 thus reside on the same straight line.

Along with the rotation of this liquid medication bottle 23, liquidmedication 5 contained in liquid medication bottle 23 flows insideliquid medication bottle 23 in the circumferential direction of thecylindrical side portion of liquid medication bottle 23 in the directionof rotation of liquid medication bottle 23.

After motor 62 is rotated for a predetermined time in the forwarddirection, motor 62 is subsequently rotated in the reverse directionopposite to the forward direction. Rotationally driving unit 61 isprovided so as to be capable of generating rotary force both in theforward and reverse directions. Liquid medication dispensing machine 1may be constructed to allow an operator who operates liquid medicationdispensing machine 1 to optionally set the direction of rotation andtime of rotation of motor 62. For example, the time of rotation of motor62 in the forward direction and the time of rotation in the reversedirection may be made equal, such as by rotating motor 62 in the forwarddirection for 5 seconds to rotate liquid medication bottle 23 severaltimes, and then rotating motor 62 in the reverse direction for 5 secondsto rotate liquid medication bottle 23 several times in the reversedirection. Alternatively, for example, the direction of rotation ofmotor 62 may be set to be the forward direction alone.

Along with the change of the direction of rotation of motor 62, thedirection of rotation of liquid medication bottle 23 is also changed.That is, rotationally driving unit 61 rotates liquid medication bottle23 in the forward direction, and then rotates liquid medication bottle23 in the reverse direction opposite to the forward direction. Insideliquid medication bottle 23 having been changed in the direction ofrotation and being rotated in the reverse direction, the turbulenceintensity of a turbulent flow in the flow of liquid medication 5increases. In addition, a vortex occurs in the flow of liquid medication5. Liquid medication 5 is stirred inside liquid medication bottle 23 bythe action of this turbulent flow and vortex.

In this way, liquid medication 5 contained in liquid medication bottle23 can be stirred inside liquid medication dispensing machine 1 byrotating liquid medication bottle 23 by the rotation driving powergenerated by rotationally driving unit 61. Therefore, liquid medication5 which needs stirring can be dispensed efficiently in a short timethrough the use of liquid medication dispensing machine 1 of the presentembodiment. With a simple structure obtained by adding rotationallydriving unit 61 to a conventional device, cup 78 holding liquidmedication bottle 23 and liquid medication bottle 23 can be rotatedintegrally to stir liquid medication 5 inside liquid medicationdispensing machine 1. Since the turbulence intensity of the turbulentflow in liquid medication bottle 23 can be increased by switching thedirection of rotation of liquid medication bottle 23 from the forwarddirection to the reverse direction, liquid medication 5 can be stirredmore efficiently.

Tube 34 is located inside liquid medication bottle 23 to extend fromopening 23A to bottom 23B of liquid medication bottle 23, and tube 34 isfixed on the outside of liquid medication bottle 23. Therefore, tube 34is relatively rotated with respect to liquid medication bottle 23 beingrotated. Since tube 34 is kept fixed relative to liquid medication 5flowing through the inside of liquid medication bottle 23 together withliquid medication bottle 23, tube 34 serves as a stirrer for liquidmedication 5. That is, by locating tube 34 inside liquid medicationbottle 23 to be immersed in liquid medication 5, the flow of liquidmedication 5 is more likely to become a turbulent flow. Liquidmedication 5 can therefore be stirred more efficiently.

When tube 34 located inside liquid medication bottle 23 is rotatedtogether with liquid medication bottle 23, tube 34 may be twisted. Iftube 34 is twisted, a problem, such as removal of tube 34 from liquidmedication bottle 23, falling of liquid medication bottle 23 or damageto tube 34, may occur. Therefore, the present embodiment presents astructure where, when rotationally driving unit 61 rotates liquidmedication bottle 23, base member 81 fixed to opening 23A of liquidmedication bottle 23 is rotated integrally with liquid medication bottle23, but cover 83 mounted on base member 81 slides over base member 81without rotation. Tube 34 is fixed to nozzle attachment plate 53, and isattached to cover 83 capable of relatively rotating with respect to basemember 81.

The diameter of opening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23 and thediameter of through-hole 81 c formed in base member 81 are formedsomewhat larger than the outer diameter of tube 34. By aligning theposition of the through-hole formed in cover 83 through which tube 34can be inserted with opening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23 andthrough-hole 81 c formed in base member 81, tube 34 is positionedrelative to liquid medication bottle 23 so as to pass through thecentral part of opening 23A and through-hole 81 c as shown in FIG. 8.Base member 81, cover 83 and positioning member 85 constitute apositioning unit that positions tube 34 relative to liquid medicationbottle 23 so as to pass through the central part of opening 23A. Tube 34is attached to liquid medication bottle 23 with this positioning unitinterposed therebetween.

Since such a structure can prevent tube 34 from contacting opening 23A,tube 34 can be prevented from being rotated together with liquidmedication bottle 23 while liquid medication bottle 23 is being rotated.Therefore, the occurrence of twist of tube 34 can be prevented, and theoccurrence of a problem that would be caused by twist of tube 34 asdescribed above can be prevented. It is also possible to prevent tube 34from contacting liquid medication bottle 23 and base member 81 beingrotated and to prevent the outer surface of tube 34 from being worn out.Therefore, damage to tube 34 can be prevented, and wear debris of tube34 can be prevented from entering liquid medication bottle 23.

By fitting positioning member 85 into recess 84 of cover 83 so thatpositioning member 85 is held by cover 83, tube 34 is engaged with cover83, and tube 34 can be easily positioned relative to liquid medicationbottle 23 so as to pass through the central part of opening 23A, whichcan easily prevent the occurrence of twist or wear of tube 34.

As shown in FIG. 10, recess 84 formed in cover 83 has the form extendingin the direction from the central part of cover 83 to the radially outerside, and positioning member 85 to be attached to tube 34 has the formcorresponding to recess 84. That is, positioning member 85 extends inthe direction crossing (typically, orthogonal to) the direction in whichtube 34 extends. Tube 34 extends through positioning member 85 on theone end side of positioning member 85 in the direction in whichpositioning member 85 extends, and the other end side opposite to theabove-mentioned one end side protrudes from the surface of tube 34 so asto project from tube 34 to the radially outside of tube 34. By thusforming positioning member 85, positioning member 85 has a rotationstopping function to prevent tube 34 from rotating relative to cover 83.Therefore, wear of tube 34 and cover 83 can be prevented, and wear ofpositioning member 85 and cover 83 can be prevented.

At the time of rotation of liquid medication bottle 23, base member 81is rotated together with liquid medication bottle 23 while being incontact with cover 83 not being rotated. Therefore, at the contactsliding portion between base member 81 and cover 83, the materialforming base member 81 or cover 83 is worn out. However, base member 81has flat plate-like flange portion 81 a and sleeve portion 81 bprojecting from flange portion 81 a, and cover 83 is mounted on flangeportion 81 a, and through-hole 81 c for locating tube 34 to extendthrough cover 83 is formed at the upper end of sleeve portion 81 b.Therefore, wear debris of base member 81 and cover 83 can be preventedfrom entering liquid medication bottle 23 via through-hole 81 c.

In the stirring device of the present embodiment, rotationally drivingunit 61 is located under liquid medication bottle 23, and shaft 64 thattransmits rotary force extends through box 63 and liquid medicationbottle holder 32 to project upward from rotationally driving unit 61. Ifliquid medication 5 enters motor 62 along shaft 64, a problem may occurin motor 62. Therefore, a waterproof structure for preventing liquidmedication 5 from entering motor 62 in case that liquid medication 5spills during handling of liquid medication bottle 23 to thereby protectmotor 62 is provided on the upper surface of liquid medication bottleholder 32. This waterproof structure will be described below.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the end of shaft 64 coupled to motor 62 iscovered by a cap-like coupling shaft 65. Shaft 64 is located to extendthrough the through-hole formed in liquid medication bottle holder 32 tospan the upper and lower sides of liquid medication bottle holder 32.Coupling shaft 65 is located on the upper side of liquid medicationbottle holder 32. Coupling shaft 65 is attached to shaft 64 removably inconsideration of ease of maintenance.

An annular sheet member 71 made of an elastic material is located incontact with the upper surface of liquid medication bottle holder 32 soas to surround the through-hole formed in liquid medication bottleholder 32 for shaft 64 to extend therethrough. Sheet member 71 is heldbetween liquid medication bottle holder 32 and an annular pressingmember 72. Pressing member 72 is fixed to liquid medication bottleholder 32 by a fixing member 73 represented by a plurality of bolts.Pressing member 72 is fixed to liquid medication bottle holder 32 whileapplying stress on sheet member 71 in the thickness direction andkeeping sheet member 71 in an elastically deformed state in its entiretyin the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the circumference of thethrough-hole formed in liquid medication bottle holder 32 is sealedliquid tightly, which prevents the liquid from entering sheet member 71from the outer circumferential side to the inner circumferential side.

The upper end of coupling shaft 65 projects upward relative to pressingmember 72 fixed to liquid medication bottle holder 32. A disc-likecircular connector 74 is fixed to the upper end of coupling shaft 65.Circular connector 74 has formed therein a fixing hole 74 a on the sidecloser to the center and a fixing hole 74 b on the side closer to theperiphery. Circular connector 74 and coupling shaft 65 are fixedintegrally by inserting a bolt through fixing hole 74 a.

A cover 75 is provided so as to cover circular connector 74 and pressingmember 72. Circular connector 74 and cover 75 are fixed integrally byinserting a bolt through fixing hole 74 b on the peripheral side of thecircular connector and a fixing hole 75 b formed in cover 75. Cover 75has a disc portion to be brought into contact with the upper surface ofcircular connector 74 and a cylindrical portion projecting from theperiphery of this disc portion toward liquid medication bottle holder32. Cylindrical portion is larger in diameter than circular connector 74and pressing member 72, and the outer circumferential surface ofpressing member 72 is surrounded by the cylindrical portion. The discportion of cover 75 is in surface contact with circular connector 74.

With the waterproof structure as described above, a liquid, if spilledon cover 75 from above, flows from the disc portion of cover 75 to theouter side of the cylindrical portion, and the liquid is prevented fromflowing toward pressing member 72 on the radially inner side. Since theliquid is prevented from flowing to the inner side of pressing member72, the liquid is prevented from reaching shaft 64 beyond pressingmember 72 and sheet member 71. Moreover, even if the liquid flows viafixing holes 75 b, 74 b for fixing cover 75 and circular connector 74,the liquid is prevented from reaching fixing hole 74 a in the vicinityof the center of circular connector 74 since fixing hole 74 b is formedin the vicinity of the outer circumference of circular connector 74,which prevents the liquid from reaching shaft 64 via fixing hole 74 a.Therefore, the occurrence of flow of liquid along shaft 64 can beprevented, and liquid medication 5 can be prevented from entering motor62 along shaft 64.

Moreover, by removably attaching each element forming the waterproofstructure described above by means of a bolt, for example, liquidmedication 5, if spilled, can be cleaned easily by removing eachelement.

A disc-like cup fixing part 76 is fixed on the upper side of cover 75. Aprojection 77 projecting upward is formed in cup fixing part 76. Thisprojection 77 is fitted within a recess formed in the bottom surface ofcup 78, so that cup 78 can be positioned relative to cup fixing part 76,which can prevent cup 78 from being displaced. Cup fixing part 76 ismade of a ferromagnetic material. Therefore, by placing a magnet on thebottom surface of cup 78, cup 78 magnetically adheres to cup fixing part76 and is fixed thereto. With such a structure, merely by locating cup78 in alignment with projection 77 to be mounted on cup fixing part 76,cup 78 can be easily fixed while being appropriately positioned relativeto cup fixing part 76.

A nonslip sheet not shown is bonded to the inner bottom surface of cup78 opposed to bottom 23B of liquid medication bottle 23. This nonslipsheet prevents liquid medication bottle 23 from slipping over the innerbottom surface of cup 78, and enables liquid medication bottle 23 toswitch the direction of rotation smoothly together with cup 78 when aswitch is made between the forward rotation and reverse rotation ofrotationally driving unit 61.

Control exerted when supplying liquid medication 5 from liquidmedication bottle 23 to prescription bottle 2 for dispensing will now bedescribed. FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of a controlmethod of liquid medication dispensing machine 1.

First, when prescription bottle 2 is set on table 48 located at theinitial position where prescription bottle 2 is placed on table 48, andtouch panel 14 is operated to issue a command to start supply of liquidmedication 5 to prescription bottle 2, then, as shown in a step (S10), acontrol signal is transmitted to elevating device 50. When elevatingdevice 50 moves weight detection unit 4 upward, prescription bottle 2 ismoved upward. Weight detection unit 4 is moved upward until it reachesthe supply position where liquid medication 5 is supplied toprescription bottle 2.

Next, in a step (S20), drum rotating motor 22 is controlled, androtation drum 21 is rotated. In the initial state prior to conductingdispensing by liquid medication dispensing machine 1, supply port 36Aformed at the lower end of supply nozzle 36 is not located at a positionfacing opening 2A formed at the upper end of prescription bottle 2, butprescription bottle 2 is located between supply nozzles 36, 36 adjacentto each other in the circumferential direction. When drum rotating motor22 is driven, rotation drum 21 is rotated such that supply nozzle 36 ismoved horizontally to the position where supply port 36A of supplynozzle 36 faces opening 2A of prescription bottle 2.

At this time, liquid medication bottle 23 mounted on liquid medicationbottle holder 32 attached to rotation drum 21 is also movedhorizontally. Then, liquid medication bottle 23 from which liquidmedication 5 contained therein is discharged is located on the forefrontside of liquid medication dispensing machine 1. Since liquid medicationbottle 23 is moved in this way, the type of liquid medication 5dispensed can be visually identified from the front of liquid medicationdispensing machine 1.

When the rotation of rotation drum 21 is completed, then, in a step(S30), pump driving motor 40 is moved forward, and coupling member 42 ofpump driving motor 40 is coupled to coupled member 44 of pump 24. Thisbrings about the state where rotation of pump driving motor 40 can betransmitted to pump 24, that is, the state where pump 24 can be driven.

Next, in a step (S40), it is determined whether or not liquid medication5 to be supplied to prescription bottle 2 is liquid medication 5 of thetype that requires stirring. If it is determined that stirring isnecessary, subsequently in a step (S50), rotationally driving unit 61 isdriven in the forward direction, so that liquid medication bottle 23 isrotated in the forward direction. Furthermore, in a step (S60),rotationally driving unit 61 is driven in the reverse direction, so thatliquid medication bottle 23 is rotated in the reverse direction. Liquidmedication 5 in liquid medication bottle 23 is sufficiently stirred bythis forward and reverse rotation of liquid medication bottle 23.

Then, in a step (S70), pump 24 is driven to supply a predeterminedquantity of liquid medication 5 in liquid medication bottle 23 toprescription bottle 2 via tube 34 and supply nozzle 36. By supplyingliquid medication 5 to prescription bottle 2 after rotationally drivingunit 61 rotates liquid medication bottle 23, liquid medication 5 havingbeen sufficiently stirred can be supplied. Therefore, liquid medication5 of the type that requires stirring prior to dispensing in accordancewith the prescription guidelines can be dispensed automatically usingliquid medication dispensing machine 1 of the present embodiment.

If it is determined that stirring is unnecessary in step (S40), the stepof rotating liquid medication bottle 23 is skipped, and pump 24 isdriven immediately to supply liquid medication 5 from liquid medicationbottle 23 to prescription bottle 2. Liquid medication bottle 23containing liquid medication 5 which does not require stirring is heldinside cup 78 attached to the upper surface of liquid medication bottleholder 32 with cup fixing part 76A (see FIGS. 6 to 10) interposedtherebetween. Rotationally driving unit 61 is not provided under cupfixing part 76A.

Then, in a step (S80), it is determined whether or not supply of liquidmedication 5 (and a diluent if necessary) to prescription bottle 2 hasbeen fully completed and dispensing has been completed. If supply ofliquid medication 5 has not been completed, the process is returned tostep (S20), and rotation drum 21 is rotated such that liquid medicationbottle 23 containing liquid medication 5 to be supplied next is locatedon the forefront side of the device. When supply of liquid medication 5has been completed, elevating device 50 moves table 48 downward, so thatprescription bottle 2 is moved downward. Table 48 is moved downwarduntil it returns to the initial position from the supply position. Thesupply of liquid medication 5 to prescription bottle 2 through the useof liquid medication dispensing machine 1 of the present embodiment isthereby completed.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a variation of a stirring device.In the example shown in FIG. 13, center line L2 of liquid medicationbottle 23 is offset from rotation axis L3 of rotationally driving unit61, and cup 78 as a holder holds liquid medication bottle 23 with centerline L2 displaced from rotation axis L3.

In order to easily store liquid medication bottle 23 in cup 78, thediameter of cup 78 is formed somewhat larger than the diameter of liquidmedication bottle 23, and there is some room between liquid medicationbottle 23 and cup 78. Therefore, it is considered that center line L2and rotation axis L3 actually do not match completely in the structureshown in FIG. 8 as well, and liquid medication 5 in liquid medicationbottle 23 is eccentrically rotated relative to the rotation ofrotationally driving unit 61. Liquid medication 5 is efficiently stirredby this eccentric rotation. Then, with the structure where center lineL2 and rotation axis L3 are intentionally offset as shown in FIG. 13,liquid medication 5 in liquid medication bottle 23 is reliably rotatedeccentrically relative to the rotation of rotationally driving unit 61,and the degree of eccentricity can be increased, so that liquidmedication 5 can be stirred much more efficiently.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing another variation of a stirringdevice. In the example shown in FIG. 14, a projection 79 projectingupward is provided on the bottom surface of cup 78, and liquidmedication bottle 23 is located in cup 78 such that bottom 23B of liquidmedication bottle 23 rests upon projection 79. Then, center line L2 ofliquid medication bottle 23 can be inclined with respect to rotationaxis L3 of rotationally driving unit 61, and the rotation axis of liquidmedication 5 in liquid medication bottle 23 is also inclined withrespect to rotation axis L3. By thus offsetting the rotation axis,liquid medication 5 can be stirred much more efficiently.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of a liquid medication dispensingmachine of a second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing astructure of a tube holding structure of the second embodiment. FIG. 17is a side view of the tube holding structure shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 18is a cross sectional view of the tube holding structure taken along theline XVIII-XVIII shown in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is an exploded perspectiveview of the tube holding structure of the second embodiment. The liquidmedication dispensing machine of the second embodiment differs from thatof the first embodiment in the structure of the tube holding structureholding tube 34 in opening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23.

Base member 81 has a structure similar to that of the first embodiment,and has annular disc-like flange portion 81 a and cylindrical sleeveportion 81 b projecting from the upper surface of flange portion 81 a.Base member 81 is fixed to opening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23with elastically deformable spacer 82 interposed therebetween. Differentfrom the first embodiment, cover 83 has an approximately rectangularbox-like cap shape having a rectangular frame-like wall portion and arectangular plate-like top portion covering the upper end of the wallportion. Cover 83 is mounted on the upper surface of flange portion 81 awhile not being fixed to base member 81. Cover 83 is provided to coveropening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23 with cover 83 mounted on basemember 81.

A metal cover 93 is located so as to cover the outer surface of the wallportion and the upper surface of the top portion of cover 83. Metalcover 93 has an approximately rectangular box-like shape similarly tocover 83. A small projection 91 is provided on the outer surface of thewall portion of cover 83, and a small hole 94 extending through the wallportion is formed in the wall portion of metal cover 93. When smallprojection 91 is fitted within small hole 94, metal cover 93 isassembled to cover 83 so as to cover the outer surface of cover 83.

Tube 34 is attached to cover 83 by fitting positioning member 85attached to tube 34 into recess 84. Metal cover 93 is put over cover 83after tube 34 is attached to cover 83, and is assembled integrally withcover 83. Metal cover 93 has formed therein a cutout 95 extending fromthe outer edge to the central part of metal cover 93. Tube 34 is locatedto pass through cutout 95, move relatively with respect to metal cover93, and extend through metal cover 93 at the central part of metal cover93.

When metal cover 93 is assembled to cover 83, metal cover 93 covers partof recess 84 formed in cover 83. When metal cover 93 is assembled tocover 83 with tube 34 attached to cover 83, metal cover 93 is located tocover positioning member 85 received in recess 84. Positioning member 85is kept received in recess 84 by metal cover 93. Metal cover 93 preventspositioning member 85 from moving in the longitudinal direction of tube34, and prevents positioning member 85 from being removed from recess84. Since metal cover 93 prevents positioning member 85 from moving,cover 83, positioning member 85 and metal cover 93 position tube 34 inthe longitudinal direction of tube 34.

An attaching member 96 is fixed on the lower surface side of nozzleattachment plate 53 instead of tube fixing part 86 of the firstembodiment. Attaching member 96 is formed so as to be capable ofreceiving one surface of the wall portion of approximately rectangularbox-like metal cover 93. Attaching member 96 is fixed to nozzleattachment plate 53 by means of a fixture 99, such as a bolt or a pin.Tube 34 is attached to cover 83 with positioning member 85 interposedtherebetween, extends from cover 83 to the main body of liquidmedication dispensing machine 1, and is engaged with cutout 54 formed innozzle attachment plate 53 to be fixed to nozzle attachment plate 53.

Metal cover 93 is made of a ferromagnetic metal material. A magnet 97 isassembled to attaching member 96. Magnet 97 has a flat plate-like shapesuch that ferromagnetic metal cover 93 can magnetically adhere thereto.As clearly shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, metal cover 93 is fixed toattaching member 96 by causing one surface of the wall portion of metalcover 93 to magnetically adhere to magnet 97. That is, metal cover 93 isfixed to attaching member 96 with magnet 97 interposed therebetween, andis thereby fixed to nozzle attachment plate 53 on the main body side ofliquid medication dispensing machine 1.

The positioning unit of the second embodiment further includes metalcover 93 in addition to base member 81, cover 83 and positioning member85. The positioning unit includes metal cover 93 as a magnetic componentmagnetically adhering to magnet 97 fixed to nozzle attachment plate 53on the main body side of liquid medication dispensing machine 1 withattaching member 96 interposed therebetween. Tube 34 is attached toliquid medication bottle 23 with this positioning unit interposedtherebetween. Such a positioning unit can attach tube 34 to liquidmedication bottle 23 such that tube 34 is relatively rotated withrespect to liquid medication bottle 23 and positioned relative to liquidmedication bottle 23 so as to pass through the central part of opening23A.

By fixing attaching member 96 to nozzle attachment plate 53 with fixture99 interposed therebetween, the positioning unit is attached to nozzleattachment plate 53 on the main body side of liquid medicationdispensing machine 1 at a position where opening 23A of liquidmedication bottle 23 is covered. Metal cover 93 included in thepositioning unit is attached to magnet 97 by magnetic force, and isremovably attached to attaching member 96 fixed to nozzle attachmentplate 53 on the main body side of liquid medication dispensing machine1.

In the second embodiment, since cover 83 can be fixed to the main bodyof liquid medication dispensing machine 1 using magnet 97 and metalcover 93, misalignment of cover 83 and base member 81 in the horizontaldirection can be prevented. Therefore, tube 34 with positioning member85 fitted within recess 84 of cover 83 can be prevented from movinghorizontally along with misalignment of cover 83. Therefore, tube 34fixed to nozzle attachment plate 53 at cutout 54 can be prevented fromsliding over nozzle attachment plate 53, and the outer surface of tube34 can be prevented from being worn out.

Moreover, by holding positioning member 85 between cover 83 and metalcover 93, positioning member 85 is kept inside recess 84, andpositioning member 85 can be prevented from being removed from recess84. Therefore, positioning member 85 can be prevented from being removedfrom cover 83, and tube 34 can be prevented from sliding over cover 83or nozzle attachment plate 53 to be worn out.

The characteristic structure of the tube holding structure of the secondembodiment described above is summarized below. That is, the tubeholding structure according to the second embodiment is a tube holdingstructure used for liquid medication dispensing machine 1 for supplyingliquid medication 5 from liquid medication bottle 23 containing liquidmedication 5 to prescription bottle 2, the tube holding structureholding tube 34 through which liquid medication 5 flown out of liquidmedication bottle 23 passes. Liquid medication bottle 23 is providedrotatably around the rotation axis along center line L2 of liquidmedication bottle 23. The outer diameter of tube 34 is formed smallerthan the diameter of opening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23. Thetube holding structure includes the positioning unit that positions tube34 relative to liquid medication bottle 23 so as to pass through thecentral part of opening 23A, thereby attaching tube 34 to liquidmedication bottle 23.

Then, tube 34 can be prevented from contacting opening 23A and can beprevented from being rotated together with liquid medication bottle 23while liquid medication bottle 23 is being rotated. Therefore, theoccurrence of twist of tube 34 can be prevented, and the occurrence of aproblem, such as removal of tube 34 from liquid medication bottle 23,falling of liquid medication bottle 23 or damage to tube 34, can beprevented. It is also possible to prevent tube 34 from contactingrotating liquid medication bottle 23 and base member 81 and to preventthe outer surface of tube 34 from being worn out. Therefore, damage totube 34 can be prevented, and wear debris of tube 34 can be preventedfrom entering liquid medication bottle 23.

Moreover, the positioning unit is located at the position coveringopening 23A. The positioning unit is attached to nozzle attachment plate53 on the main body side of liquid medication dispensing machine 1 byassembling attaching member 96 fixed to nozzle attachment plate 53 andmetal cover 93 included in the positioning unit with magnet 97interposed therebetween.

Tube 34 positioned relative to liquid medication bottle 23 by thepositioning unit can be prevented from becoming misaligned with the mainbody of liquid medication dispensing machine 1 with the positioning unitattached to the main body of liquid medication dispensing machine 1.Therefore, tube 34 can be prevented from becoming misaligned with liquidmedication bottle 23 held by liquid medication bottle holder 32 on themain body side of liquid medication dispensing machine 1, and tube 34can thus be prevented from being unintentionally worn out. Tube 34 canbe positioned relative to liquid medication bottle 23 more reliably bylocating the positioning unit at the position where opening 23A ofliquid medication bottle 23 is covered and attaching the positioningunit to the main body of liquid medication dispensing machine 1 in thevicinity of opening 23A.

Moreover, the positioning unit includes cover 83 formed with recess 84into which positioning member 85 is fitted and metal cover 93 coveringcover 83 from the outside. With metal cover 93 covering positioningmember 85 received in recess 84, positioning member 85 is held betweencover 83 and metal cover 93 in the longitudinal direction of tube 34.Then, positioning member 85 is prevented from moving in the longitudinaldirection of tube 34, and positioning member 85 can thus be preventedfrom moving upward relative to cover 83 to be removed from recess 84.Therefore, positioning member 85 can be prevented from being removedfrom cover 83, and tube 34 can be prevented from sliding over cover 83or nozzle attachment plate 53 to be worn out.

Moreover, the positioning unit includes metal cover 93 magneticallyadhering to magnet 97 fixed to the main body of liquid medicationdispensing machine 1. Then, by providing magnet 97 fixed integrally tothe main body side of liquid medication dispensing machine 1 andbringing ferromagnetic metal cover 93 into contact with magnet 97, metalcover 93 can be easily fixed to the main body side of liquid medicationdispensing machine 1.

Since metal cover 93 and cover 83 both have a rectangular box-likeshape, and small projection 91 is fitted within small hole 94 to beassembled integrally so that the amount of relative movement in thehorizontal direction is small, cover 83 is also fixed along with fixingof metal cover 93. Cover 83 can therefore be prevented from becomingmisaligned with base member 81. Tube 34 can therefore be prevented frombecoming misaligned with base member 81 together with cover 83. Inaddition, since metal cover 93 has the form covering part of recess 84formed in cover 83, positioning member 85 is held between metal cover 93and cover 83 by assembling metal cover 93 to cover 83. Tube 34 cantherefore be prevented by metal cover 93 from being moved in thelongitudinal direction. Tube 34 can therefore be positioned morereliably.

The positioning unit is removably attached to the main body of liquidmedication dispensing machine 1. Then, the positioning unit can beattached to the main body of liquid medication dispensing machine 1after fitting positioning member 85 into recess 84 of cover 83constituting the positioning unit, putting metal cover 93 over cover 83for assembly with small projection 91 and small hole 94 aligned witheach other, and assembling the positioning unit integrally. The ease ofassembly of the positioning unit can thereby be improved. Since thepositioning unit can be attached to the main body of liquid medicationdispensing machine 1 by magnetic force in an easy operation of bringingmetal cover 93 included in the positioning unit into contact with magnet97, the positioning unit can be attached more easily.

Because magnet 97 has a flat plate-like shape, the outer surface of thewall portion of rectangular box-like metal cover 93 is brought intosurface contact with magnet 97, and the strength by which metal cover 93magnetically adheres to magnet 97 can be increased. Moreover, metalcover 93 can magnetically adhere to an arbitrary position of planarmagnet 97, and as a result, in the case where liquid medication bottles23 differ in height, metal cover 93 located depending on the heights ofliquid medication bottles 23 can reliably magnetically adhere to magnet97.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein areillustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The scope of thepresent invention is defined by the claims not by the description above,and is intended to include any modification within the meaning and scopeequivalent to the terms of the claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 liquid medication dispensing machine; 2 prescription bottle; 2Aopening; 5 liquid medication; 6 housing; 21 rotation drum; 23 liquidmedication bottle; 23A opening; 23B bottom; 24 pump; 32 liquidmedication bottle holder; 34 tube; 34 a one end; 34 b the other end; 36supply nozzle; 36A supply port; 53 nozzle attachment plate; 54 cutout;61 rotationally driving unit; 62 motor; 64 shaft; 65 coupling shaft; 71sheet member; 72 pressing member; 73 fixing member; 74 circularconnector; 74 a, 74 b, 75 b fixing hole; 75 cover; 76, 76A cup fixingpart; 77 projection; 78 cup; 81 base member; 81 a flange portion; 81 bsleeve portion; 81 c through-hole; 82 spacer; 83 cover; 84 recess; 85positioning member; 86 tube fixing part; 93 metal cover; 95 cutout; 96attaching member; 97 magnet.

1. A liquid medication dispensing machine supplying a liquid medicationfrom a liquid medication bottle containing said liquid medication to aprescription bottle, comprising: a holder holding a bottom of saidliquid medication bottle; and a rotationally driving unit generatingrotary force and rotating said holder and said liquid medication bottleheld by said holder around a rotation axis extending through said bottomof said liquid medication bottle.
 2. The liquid medication dispensingmachine according to claim 1, comprising a tube through which saidliquid medication flowing out of said liquid medication bottle passes,wherein said tube is located inside said liquid medication bottle andextends from the opening toward said bottom of said liquid medicationbottle.
 3. The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim1, wherein said holder holds said liquid medication bottle with a centerline of said liquid medication bottle displaced from said rotation axis.4. The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 1,wherein said rotationally driving unit generates the rotary force bothin forward and reverse directions, and rotates said liquid medicationbottle in the forward direction and then rotates said liquid medicationbottle in the reverse direction opposite to said forward direction. 5.The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 1, whereinsaid liquid medication is supplied to said prescription bottle aftersaid rotationally driving unit rotates said liquid medication bottle. 6.The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 1,comprising: a tube through which said liquid medication flowing out ofsaid liquid medication bottle passes; and a positioning unit positioningsaid tube relative to said liquid medication bottle such that said tubepasses through a central part of an opening of said liquid medicationbottle, wherein an outer diameter of said tube is formed smaller than adiameter of said opening, and said tube is attached to said liquidmedication bottle with said positioning unit interposed therebetween. 7.The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 6, whereinsaid positioning unit attaches said tube to said liquid medicationbottle such that said tube is relatively rotated with respect to saidliquid medication bottle.
 8. The liquid medication dispensing machineaccording to claim 6, wherein said positioning unit is attached to amain body of said liquid medication dispensing machine.
 9. The liquidmedication dispensing machine according to claim 8, wherein saidpositioning unit is removably attached to said main body of said liquidmedication dispensing machine.
 10. The liquid medication dispensingmachine according to claim 6, wherein said tube includes one end locatedinside said liquid medication bottle and a positioning member attachedto said tube at a predetermined distance from said one end, and saidtube is positioned relative to said liquid medication bottle by saidpositioning member being held by said positioning unit.
 11. The liquidmedication dispensing machine according to claim 10, wherein saidpositioning member prevents said tube from being rotated relative tosaid positioning unit.
 12. The liquid medication dispensing machineaccording to claim 10, wherein said positioning unit holds saidpositioning member in a longitudinal direction of said tube.
 13. Theliquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 6, wherein abase member rotating integrally with said liquid medication bottle isfixed to said opening, said positioning unit includes a cover mounted onsaid base member while covering said opening and not rotated while saidliquid medication bottle is being rotated but sliding over said basemember, and said tube is engaged with said cover to be positionedrelative to said liquid medication bottle.